Yes—especially if you love forbidden, age-gap romance with lots of chemistry and spice. The book currently has a 4.84/5 Goodreads rating, with readers particularly praising Skye and Dominic’s chemistry, emotional connection, and the balance between romance and spice.
Skye is desperate to help support her family after her father abandons them. In an attempt to secure enough money to change their situation, she makes a decision that leads her to a wealthy, commanding man named Dominic.
There’s just one problem: he’s her best friend’s father.
When Skye later spends the summer at Dominic’s house with her best friend, avoiding him becomes nearly impossible. Their attraction grows through stolen moments, forbidden touches, and an increasingly intense power dynamic.
But crossing that line could cost Skye her best friend, her trust, and her heart.
Bottom line: If you enjoy age-gap + best friend’s dad + forbidden romance + dominant/possessive hero + forced proximity + high spice, this is very much your kind of book.
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Plot | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ |
| Characters | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ |
| Romance/Chemistry | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Pacing | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Emotional Impact | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Overall | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ |
Your ratings highlight the book’s biggest strengths: Skye and Dominic’s chemistry, emotional connection, and character development. Reader reviews praise the relationship and the balance between plot and spice, while the most common criticism is that the ending feels somewhat rushed.
Final verdict: 4.5/5 ⭐ — addictive, emotional, steamy, and driven by exceptional chemistry.
One reader’s main criticism was exactly this combination of a rushed plot and repetition, while another enjoyed the book overall but felt the ending lacked emotional payoff.
Skye — ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
She’s young but surprisingly mature, with substantial family responsibilities. Her journey toward confidence, artistic identity, and sexual autonomy gives her more depth than the premise might suggest.
Dominic — ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A commanding, wealthy, possessive older hero who is very much a Dom. His softer side emerges as his feelings for Skye deepen, creating a nice contrast between his controlling nature and genuine emotional vulnerability.
Harper & the supporting cast — ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Harper isn’t simply a plot obstacle. Her friendship with Skye makes the forbidden relationship considerably more complicated and emotionally meaningful.
Chemistry: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is the book’s strongest element.
Skye and Dominic have immediate attraction, but the tension comes from their attempts to resist it because of Harper. Their relationship gradually develops from physical attraction into something emotionally significant.
The power dynamic is also central: Dominic is naturally dominant, while Skye discovers that she enjoys a submissive role. Importantly, readers noted that Dominic doesn’t simply rush her into things; their dynamic develops as Skye explores her own boundaries.
Best part: their compatibility isn’t portrayed as purely sexual—they also discover shared interests and an emotional connection.
The book is particularly trope-heavy if you’re a fan of taboo/forbidden age-gap romance.
This is high-spice romance.
Expect:
The premise itself involves Skye auctioning her virginity to help her family financially, so sexual themes are deeply integrated into the story.
Content considerations: family financial hardship, parental abandonment, financial desperation, sexual themes, and significant age/power differences.
Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It’s an easy, bingeable read. The forbidden attraction keeps the story moving, and the chemistry makes it difficult to put down.
However, the book occasionally prioritizes romantic momentum over slower plot development. The ending in particular moves quickly.
Writing: accessible, dialogue-driven, emotional, and heavily focused on romantic tension.
Overall: fast and addictive, but occasionally rushed.
⭐ 4/5
The ending is satisfying overall, but it isn’t quite as emotionally developed as the rest of the book.
The main issue is that some events are compressed through time jumps, meaning certain developments happen without as much emotional payoff as readers might want.
The upside is that the book is positioned as the beginning of an interconnected series, and the supporting characters leave plenty of room for future stories.
Pick this up if you love:
Especially recommended if you enjoy Nicole Fox-style possessive romance but want a somewhat more contemporary/romantic feel.
It may not work for you if you dislike:
Best friend’s dad + age gap + forbidden attraction. Closest match for the forbidden setup, although it’s more slow-burn.
Age gap, taboo dynamics, dominant energy, and very high spice.
Forbidden age-gap romance with a much heavier emphasis on erotic tension.
Much darker and more taboo. Check content warnings first.
Extremely explicit and much more erotica-forward, with the best-friend’s-dad fantasy taken to an extreme.
Is it dark romance?
Not exactly. It’s better categorized as spicy contemporary/forbidden romance with taboo and possessive elements.
Is Dominic possessive?
Yes. His dominant and possessive personality is a major part of the romance.
Is it slow burn?
It has substantial tension and resistance, but it’s not an extremely slow-burn romance.
Is it very spicy?
Yes. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Is there an emotional romance beyond the spice?
Yes. Readers repeatedly praised the emotional connection between Skye and Dominic and the character development.
How long is it?
The paperback is listed at 436 pages, while the digital edition is listed at 352 pages.
Is it part of a series?
It’s presented as the first book in an interconnected series.
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Plot | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ |
| Characters | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ |
| Romance/Chemistry | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Pacing | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Emotional Impact | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Spice | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ |
| Overall | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ |
The Summer We Lie is at its best when it’s focusing on Skye and Dominic—their forbidden attraction, emotional connection, and intense power dynamic. The plot isn’t quite as strong as the romance, and the ending could use more breathing room, but the chemistry makes the book highly addictive.
If your ideal romance is: best friend’s dad + huge age gap + possessive Dom + forbidden relationship + forced proximity + 5/5 spice — this is absolutely worth adding to your TBR. 🔥📖
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